Ice-cream making plate



ug 17 l954 M. KURTZ ICE-CREAM MAKING PLATE Filed Sept. 9, 1952 InventorL Owe'H MKLJPCZ,

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Patented Aug. 17, 1954 Zgiti ICE-CREAM MAKING PLATE Lowell M. Kurtz,Erie, Pa., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of NewYork Application September 9, 1952, Serial No. 308,535

6 Claims.

My invention relates to the making of ice cream or the like and pertainsmore particularly to a means for making ice cream or the like in thehome.

A desirable accessory to household refrigerators and home freezers is alow cost device whereby ice cream or the like may be made manually andquickly. Accordingly, the primary object of my invention is to provide afreezing device for making ice cream or the like manually and quickly byutilizing the freezing effect of refrigeration apparatus as found inhousehold refrigerators or home freezers.

Another object of my invention is to provide a low cost freezing deviceadapted for being cooled by refrigeration apparatus found in householdrefrigerators or home freezers and for serving exteriorly thereof in avariety of capacities where cooling is required.

Still another object of my invention is to provide, with a freezingdevice including spaced substantially flat walls, improved means tendingto maintain the walls in the substantially fiat condition thereof.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent asthe following description proceeds and the features of novelty whichcharacterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in theclaims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

In carrying out the objects of my invention, I provide a freezing devicecomprising a chamber including spaced walls. The chamber contains asolution that fills the space between the walls and is adapted forfreezing when the chamber is exposed to suitably low temperatures. Amember is carried by one of the walls and projects towards the other ofthe walls and another member is carried on the other wall and projectstowards the first wall with the members being in camming engagement. Atleast one of the members is resilient. The members resist distortion ofthe walls during expansive movement of the walls resulting from freezingof solution and draw the walls toward each other upon melting of thesolution. The members also provide heat transfer paths from the wallsinto the solution.

For a better understanding of my invention, reference may be had to theaccompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of my inventionpartly broken away to illustrate distortion resisting means providedtherein; Fig. 2 is a section taken along the line 2 2 in Fig. 1 andlooking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 3 is an enlargedfragmentary detail sectional View further illustrating the distortionresisting means; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating amodification of the distortion resisting means; and Fig. 5 is a sectiontaken along the line 5--5 in Fig. 4 and looking in the direction of thearrows.

In Fig. 1, the device of my invention is showny as a rectangular andsubstantially fiat chamber I. While it is not essential to the inventionthat the chamber I be either rectangular or fiat, it will be seen thatthe chamber when so formed is adapted for facilitated arrangement andfor occupyingv a minimum of space in a refrigerator or freezer (notshown). As better seen in Fig. 2, the charnber I comprises asubstantially flat lower wall or plate 2 and an upper wall or plate 3,both of which are preferably formed of a good heat conductive materialsuch as aluminum or copper. The upper plate 3 is formed to provide adepression 4 having a substantially flat bottom 5. The upper plate 3 isfurther formed to include sides 6 having flanged edges l. The angededges l on the sides of the upper plate are secured in a leak-proofmanner, as by Welding, to the adjacent edges of the lower plate 2.

suitably secured in an aperture in one corner of the upper plate 3 andextending into the space between the upper and lower plates is a fillerplug 8. The filler plug 8 is internally threaded and receives inthreaded engagement a plug screw 9. The filler plug 8 permits filling ofthe chamber I with a charge indicated by I in Fig. 2 of a freezing oreutectic solution, and the screw 9 when tightly threaded into the plug 8seals the solution charge in the chamber.

The eutectic solution may be of any suitable substance; however, Ichoose to employ an aqueous solution of .197 part of potassium chlorideby weight which freezes at approximately 12.8 F. When the chamber I isexposed to a satisfactorily low temperature for a sufficient length oftime, the eutectic solution IG becomes frozen. Thereafter the utecticsolution Il) and, therefore, the chamber I remain at a temperature ofapproximately 12.8 for an extended period of time.

The capacity of the chamber I is such as to hold approximately onegallon of the potassium chloride solution I0. This one gallon of theeutectic solution freezes completely when the chamber I is in heatexchange relation overnight with freezing means operating atapproximately 0 F. This freezing means may be either the evaporator in arefrigerator or a home freezer. When the solution is to be cooled in arefrigerator, means may be provided for holding the chamber I adjacentthe evaporator therein. When the solution is to be cooled in a homefreezer, the chamber I may be simply inserted in the freezer or meansmay be provided for holding the chamber adjacent one of the freezingsurfaces in the freezer.

Following freezing of the eutectic solution IIB in the manner justdescribed, the chamber I may be taken'out ofzheatfexchange relation4with the freezing means and utilized for making ice cream or the like.This is accomplished by placing the device in a convenient location,such as on a table, and covering at least a portion of. the bottom ofthe depression 4 with a thin layer of a mixture for making ice cream`orthe like. This mixture may be preparedV at home or purchased atdairies and similar establishments. It will be seen that the provisionof the depression I is not essential to the method, since themixturecould be poured on a flat surface of chamber i, suchas theloweraplateIZ.The depression ll is provided, 'however,:sinceitperrnitssan'optimum and:practical i thickness .i of :the `mixture to be retained ontheechamber..Additional-ly, the depression 'facilitatesiihandlinggzof the-rnixtureon the chamber. 'The.12;8 temperature :at which the solutionilzrtendstozremain-is lower than the freezing Apoint :ofthecmixtureto be frozen.Therefore,',whenttheidepression bottom 5 Ais covered withthefzmixturefinithis 'mannen heat transfers from the fimixture:tothe-frozen eutectic solution I D and thefmixturewis thereby caused tofreeze totheidepression bottomui.

Thereafter, by .utilizing razspatula'indicated by Il' or anyotherntensilhaving-a substantially wald-e edge blade, vthefrozenmixture-'is alternately and repeatedly. scrapedffromthe:depression 'bottom E and then respreadaover the -depression bottom. nthis mannergaquantity `ofl frozenmixture obtainedfwhich is! smooth and:substantially 'free of ice crystals. This quantity of frozenmixture-may beremovedfrom the depression 4 or pushed toonesidepthereofvand the above-described processvmaybe, repeated. -I havefoundl that optimumfreezing ofthe mixture s and ease ofhandlingthermixture isobtained when the-depth of mixtureplacedfon ythedepression bottom 5 does not exceedfapproximatelyMrinch. With ymydevice, including-...theorie .ygallonicharge I8 of potassiumchloridesolution .adapted for freezing at approximately12I8 F., and'following method, lapproXirnatel-y21%coluarts of frozen mixture of asatisfactory consistency may-be obtained manually and quickly.

It will be seen, ofcourse, :that the freezing capacity of my .devicedepends :upon the type and quantity of theeutectic solution-.chargeemployed and maybe varied .by varying these factors. It Vwill beseenfurther thatthe chamber I, .when the solution charge I0 ythereiniseither frozen or merely cooled,.\may.i.be employed A-fcr .a variety ofpurposes other-than the making ofice cream or the like. For; instance,receptacles containing drnks, saladstand 'other-refreshments could besupported on the chamber I for having the contents of such. receptacles.cooledby heat transfer to the eutectic solution ID.

. As seen in Figs..1, 2-.and 3, means. are provided in .the chamber Ifor resisting distortion ofthe walls of the chamber during expansiveVmovements of the walls resulting Afrom jfreezing of the solution I0.This means includes a .plurality of spaced apart resilient members orchannels I2 secured at thelbaseslB thereof, .as by welding, to the inner.side of the upper wall 3, and specically to the inner side of thebottoward the upper wall 3 between the first-mentioned resilient membersI2.

In this arrangement, the sides I of the resilient members I2 secured tothe upper wall 3 are in camming engagement 'wit'nthe sides I1 of theresilient members I5. vts'seen in Figs. l and the cooperating members I2and I5 are disposed in the central portions of the upper and lower walls2 and 3, respectively, or-.in other words, where the-expansioneof the.walls would be greatest when the-solution Il'freezes. Whenithe solutiontO-.idoesLfreczerand the upper and lower walls of the chamber I expandand move oppcsitely in themannershown in IFig. 3, the sides l of` theuppeiurmembers I2 'cooperate with the sides II of .theilcwerfmembers I5.Theresilience of the side .portions of the membersr I2 and I5 is suchthat'theisideportions are initially `depressed by each :other and permitsome :expansive movement of the chamber `walls. -However, thereaftertl'ier-camming engagement of the sideportions h1 and Il is eective forresisting continued expansive movement and distortion of theupperandi-'lower chamber walls.

'When thefrozen solution I0 melts, .the cammin'gengagement of thesideportions of the members E2^iand I5 effectively draws ytheupper and lowerwalls of the chamber toward -each other. Thus,.the walls of the chamberare maintained substantially flat duri-ng freezing and melting of thesolution. Ma-intenance'fof the upper ywall.' 3,. `andsrnorespecificallyv the bottom 5 of the depression 4,substantiallyfflat, vfacilitates scrapi-ng'iof vthe .frozenfmixture fromthe depression bottom: 'and' respreading the. mixture thereover bymea-ns'of thespatula II or any other "Wide-edge utensil. 'Maintenancerof the loweitwa-llv 2 substantially dat prevents the' chamber fromtending to revolvel on a lhigh portion whenthe upper side isbeing'.used-foirmaking ice .cream 'or the like.

lAsrseen in Figs. 1 and 2, I have Yprovided other members or channels I8disposed on eitherside of the members I2fand I5. The "members i8 aresecuredto the inner side of the depression bottom Sand-extend across the'depression' bottom. The mem-bers I8 do `not cooperate 'with other.similar members, buttogether with the membersy I2 secured-to thedepression bottom' serve to provide heat transfer paths from thedepression bottom 5,-.and thereforethe mixturethereon, into the frozensolution I0. Ina similaimannenthe members I5-secured to the lower wall:2-servef as heat transfei` paths into t-he solution- I0.

`In-assemblinglthe chamber I, the upperwall 3 to which the members I2are secured ispositioned;so that the members I'2yare to oneside of thev`members I5 onthe'icwerfwall Zand' aligned with the spaces between. themembers I5. Then, by sliding'the upper `wall 3 sidewise, the `membersI2are inserted into the spacesbetween" the members I5 and theA edgesofthe -lower wall 2 Aare caused to register with'the 'edges of theflange 'Iron the upperA Wall. 'Thereafter the edges of the flange andthe lower wall are welded. This renders the chamber i leakproof andsecures the arms ifi on the members i2 in camming engagement with thearms l on the members l5 for the purposes set forth above.

It will be seen that I have employed members formed as channels merelyas a production expedient. Resilient members of any conguration may besecured to the inner side of the depression bottoms and be adapted forcamming engagement with similar members secured to the inner side of thelower wall 2. Additionally, the pluralities of members secured to thedepression bottom and the lower wall need not both be resilient. Eithercould be rigid and they would still cooperate to resist distortion.

in Figs. 4 and 5, I have shown the chamber l as being provided withmodified means for resisting distortion of the upper and lower wallsthereof. In the modification, a plurality of spaced resilient members orchannels 2S are secured at the bases 2i thereof as by welding to theinner side of the lower wall il. The channel members Ztl includeresilient side portions 22 which are inclined throughout their lengthsand project outwardly and upwardly toward the opposite or upper wall 3.Additionally, the members 2S extend substantially across the chamberbeneath the depression bottom 5. The modied form furier includes asecond plurality oi spaced apart resilient members or channels 23secured at the bases thereof as by welding to the inner side oi thedepression bottom 5. The members 23 extend across the depression bottom5 and include resilient side portions which project downwardly betweenthe spaced apart members 2li. The members 23 include side portions E5which are vertical and other side portions 2@ which are inclined andproject outwardly for being in c mming engagement and cooperating withthe outwardly projecting side portions l2 or" the members 2S. Thevertical side portions 25 are located at the ends of the members 23 andthe inclined or outwardly projecting side portions 215 are locatedbeneath the central portion oi the depression bottom The vertical sideportions 25 are provided on the ends of the members 23 for allowing thDmembers 2d to clear the side edges E of the upper wall 3 when duringassembly of the chamber the members 2s are inserted between the members23. t will be seen that the side portions need not be vertical but couldbe inclined inwardly from the vertical. This modified arrangementresists distortion oi the chamber walls and provides heat paths into thesolution in the manner and for the purpose described above.

While I have shown and described specific ernbodiments oi my invention,I do not desire my invention to be limited to the particular forms shownand described and I intend by the appenced claims to cover allmodifications within the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

l. Means for making ice cream or the like comprising; a chamberincluding spaced walls, said chamber containing a freezing solution,said freezing solution filling the space between said walls, a membercarried by one of said walls and projecting toward the other of saidwalls, another member carried on said other wall and projecting towardsaid iirst-mentioned wall, said members being in camming engagement, atleast one of said members being resilient, said members resistingdistortion of said walls during expansive movements of said wallsresulting from freezing of said solution, said members drawing saidwalls toward each other upon melting of said solution, said membersproviding heat transfer paths from said walls into said solution, saidsolution freezing when said chamber is exposed to suitably lowtemperatures, one ci said walls having a depression formed therein, saiddepression being adapted for holding a thin layer of a mixture formaking ice cream or the like in heat exchange relation with said frozensolution thereby to freeze said mixture to the bottom of saiddepression, and said bottom of said depression being shaped tofacilitate scraping of frozen mixture from and respreading of saidfrozen mixture on said bottom of said depression thereby to obtain asatisfactory frozen mixture consistency.

2. A freezing device comprising; a chamber including spaced walls, saidchamber containing a solution, said solution lling the space betweensaid walls, said solution being adapted for freezing when said chamberis exposed to suitably low temperatures, a member carried by one of saidwalls and projecting toward the other oi said walls, and another membercarried on said other wall and projecting toward said first-mentionedwall, said members being in camming engagement, at least one of saidmembers being resilient, said members resisting distortion of said wallsduring expansive movements of said walls resulting from freezing of saidsolution, said members drawing said walls toward each other upon meltingof said solution, said members providing heat transfer paths from saidwalls into said solution.

3. A freezing device comprising; a chamber including substantially flatspaced walls, said chamber containing a solution, said solution llingthe space between said spaced walls, said solution being adapted forfreezing when said chamber is exposed to suitably low temperatures, aresilient member secured to the inner side of one of said walls, saidresilient member including an inclined portion projecting toward theother of said walls, and a second resilient member secured Ito the innerside of said other wall, said second resilient member including aninclined portion projecting toward said irst-mentioned wall, saidinclined portions being in camming engagement, said inclined portionsresisting distortion of said walls during expansive movement of saidwalls resulting from freezing 0i" said solution, said inclined portionsreturning said walls to the initially substantially at condition thereofupon melting of said solution, said inclined portions providing heattransfer paths from said walls into said solution.

4. A freezing device comprising; a chamber including substantially flatspaced walls, said chamber containing a solution, said solution llingthe space between said spaced walls, said solution being adapted forfreezing when said chamber is exposed to suitably low temperatures, aplurality of spaced apart resilient channels secured to the inner sideof one of said walls, said channels including side portions projectingoutwardly and toward the other of said walls, a second plurality ofspaced apart channels secured to :the inner side of said other wall,said second plurality of channels including side portions projectingoutwardly and between said rst mentioned channels, said side portions ofsaid first and second mentioned channels being in camming engagement,lsaid side :portions resisting distortion of said wallsduring expansivemovement of said walls resulting from freezing of said solution, saidsidev portions returning said walls to the `initially substantially atcondition thereof upon melting of said solution, said channels providingheat transfer paths from said walls into said solution.

5. A freezing device comprising; a chamber including spaced upper andlower walls, said upper wall being formed with a-depression, saiddepression having a substantially flat bottom, said chamber containing asolution, said solution lling the space 'between-said walls, saidsolution being adapted for freezing when said chamber is exposed -to asuitably low temperature, a plurality of spaced apart resilient channelssecured to the inner` side of said depression bottom, said channelsincluding resilient side portions projecting outwardly and toward saidlower wall, a second plurality of spaced apart resilient channelssecured to the inner side of said lower wall, said second plurality ofchannels including resilient side portions projecting outwardly andbetween said first-mentioned channels, said resilient side portions ofsaid first and said second mentioned channels being in cammingengagement, said resilient side por-tions resisting distortion of saiddepression bottom during expansive movements of said walls resultingfrom freezing of said solution, said resilient side portions returningsaid depression bottom to the substantially flat condition thereof uponmelting of said solution, said channels secured to said bottom of saiddepression providing heat transfer paths from said depression bottominto said solution.

6. A freezing device comprising; a chamber including spaced upper andlower walls, said upper wall being formed with side edges, said upperwall being further formed with a depression, said depression having asubstantially flat bottom, said chamber containing a solution, saidsolution filling the space between said walls, said solution beingadapted for freezing when said chamber is exposed .to a suitably lowtemperature, a rst plurality of spaced apart resilient channels securedto the inner side of said lower dii wall, said first pluralityof-channels extending substantially the width of said lower wall, saidfirst plurality of channels including resilientside portions, said sideportions projecting outwardlyand toward said upper wall, a secondplurality of spaced apart resilient channels secured to the inner sideof said depression bottom, said second plurality of channels extendingsubstantially the width. of said depression bottom, said secondplurality of channels including resilient side portions, said sideportions of said second plurality of channels including intermediateportions projecting outwardly and ltoward said lower wall. said sideportions of said second plurality of channels including vertical endportions for permitting insertion of said first plurality of channelsbetween said second plurality of channels over said side edges of saidupper wall, said outwardly projecting resilient side portions of saidfirst and second pluralities of channels being in camming engagement forresiliently resisting distortion of said depression bottom duringexpansive movements of said walls resulting from freezing of saidsolution, said outwardly projecting side por-tions returning saiddepression bottom to the substantially flat condition thereof uponmelting of said solution, said second plurality of channels providingheat transfer paths from said depression bottom into said solution.

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